Cayuse: Walla Walla with a French Twist 10-28-24

In This Newsletter:
 
Cayuse Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Discounted Donnhoff
 


Cayuse:
 
Walla Walla with a French Twist
 

Unlock Your Discount Now
 
We’ve long admired the wines from Christophe Baron (and the man himself). This Champagnois-turned-Oregonian more or less put Walla Walla’s The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater on the map. Representing the pinnacle of the region’s reds, we’re never surprised when top notch scores are released, just pleased as punch that we continue to be able to offer you these mailing list-mostly gems.
 
Not satisfied with crafting some of the most famous and sought-after wines in Walla Walla for roughly twenty years, Christophe returned to the Marne Valley of Champagne to craft exquisitely mineral Champagnes from his family’s vines. We at the shop weren’t terribly surprised by the obscene quality when he excitedly shared a magnum of the inaugural release with us.
 
Those looking to stock their cellar with beloved cuvées would do well to shop now while our three-day sale is on.
 
Cayuse / Horsepower / No Girls / Champagne Christophe:
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Thursday, October 31st at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer fifteen options from Cayuse / Horsepower / No Girls / Champagne Christophe on sale now, including:
 
Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Brut Nature, Champagne 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $259, that’s $246.05 at 5% off and $233.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2017 Brut Nature Les Alouettes is excellent, bursting with aromas of golden orchard fruit, warm spices, honeycomb, plums and toasted bread. Full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, it’s rich and sapid, with a layered core of fruit, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. Seamless and complete, this bottling is particularly strong this year.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Brut Nature Les Alouettes (Magnum) is the most potent and tightly wound of these three Champagnes from Christophe Baron. It offers up a beguiling mix of graphite, orange confit, dried flowers, earthiness, chamomile and spice, all in a dense, inward style that demands cellaring. The Alouttes shows the more earthy, savory side of Meunier. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
 
Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points
“The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.”
 
Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Côte Rôtie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”
 
Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points
“The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!”
 
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 96 points
“Showing with a deep ruby core that fades to a purple edge, the 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard explodes from the glass with pronounced smoky aromas that waft with delicate notes of dark chocolate-covered blackberries, then show hints of roasted coffee bean, notions of petrichor, baked earth and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly powerful, showcasing a balanced chassis of youthful tannins that evolve with the complex nature of the wine. There is a velvety firmness to the mid-palate before moving onto an elongated finish that grows in complexity and amplitude as the expression resonates harmoniously, confirming yet another blockbuster Syrah from the ever-so-talented Christophe Baron. Only 386 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “[#69 Top 100 Cellar Selection 2020] The aromas explode from the glass, with notes of fire pit, potpourri, black olive, wet stone, dried porcini and stone. The palate is sumptuous, layered, elegant and intensely flavorful, showing abundant savory notes. A lingering black olive and earthy finish caps it off. Best after 2025.”
 
Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“Ripe black raspberries, iodine, spring flowers, gamey meats, and pepper all emerge from the 2020 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard, a deeper, broader, medium to full-bodied Syrah with ripe, rounded tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. This meaty, gamey, complex, classic Cayuse Syrah is already approachable today but will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15+.”
James Suckling 95 points “Roasted thyme, gravy, salted plums, porcini mushrooms, mocha, black pudding and charred bark on the nose. Intense, ashy and meaty, with a medium- to full-bodied palate containing powerful smoky elements, all underpinned by firm and tight tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try in 2024.”
 
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2020 750ml Was $133, Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points
“Enticing aromas of black cherries, blackberries, licorice, cloves, green chilis and dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Beautifully deep, fleshy and inky, with excellent freshness, too. Spicy and attention-grabbing. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 95 points
“Admittedly, I’m a lover of Tempranillo from Spain. While this is nothing close to the Rioja expression, the 2021 Impulsivo does have plenty of admirable qualities, possessing a generous profile of dusty, dark red fruit, with aromas that slowly release from the glass with elements of beef broth and sour plum reduction. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows considerable weight and texture before displaying silky tannins with a delightful umami essence. After last year’s vintage, I’m happy to say this bottling is back on track and firing on all cylinders. The wine aged 18 months in 50% new and neutral French oak demi-muids, foudre and barrels. 4,824 bottles produced.”
 
No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate. 321 cases.”


Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:
 
Discounted Donnhoff

 
The Nahe is Germany’s most compelling regions despite its small size. Combining the heft of the Rheingau with the elegance and minerality inherent in the Mosel, the region offers something no other can boast: winemakers Helmut and Cornelius Dönnhoff. Despite their extensive lineup, there’s rarely a wine made here that isn’t the finest of its type and terroir each vintage.
 
We offer twelve Donnhoff wines on our Close-Out Sale – browse highlights below:
 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2021 750ml Was $79, Now $69, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points
“Dönnhoff’s 2021 Felsenberg GG is pure, bright and flinty on the deep, intense and iodine nose that also reveals phenolic complexity. Full-bodied but refined and elegant on the plate, this is a balanced and light-footed, rich and dense Felsenberg with juicy fruit and crystalline acidity, whereas the tannins step back compared to the Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg. The finish is rich yet refined and saline, with delicate lemon bitters and lush fruit. Although the 2021 is already charming, the wine needs some years on the bottle to show all its complexity and finesse without its youthful charm. This is not an austere wine that needs to soften its edges; it’s already dangerously good or even too good to cause patience. But the wine will reward those who can wait. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Hollenpfad Im Muhlenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2018 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 7 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93+ points
“The Grosses Gewächs bottling from the filet section of the Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg is also very promising and again, shows the beautifully elegant refinement of all the dry Rieslings from the Dönnhoff family this year. Helmut estimates that this is thirteen percent octane or just under in this vintage. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a very refined and expressive blend of tangerine, blood orange, salty minerality, citrus peel, smoky overtones and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and really packed at the core, with racy acids, great soil signature, laser-like focus and a very long, youthfully complex and very promising finish. 2028-2060+. 93+.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2018 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 7 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 93 points
“The 2018 Krötenpfuhl GG is absolutely superb this year. The wine is very pure on the both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely mix of pink grapefruit, tart orange, salty minerality, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very well-balanced, with a lovely core, ripe, vibrant acids and great focus and grip on the long, nascently complex and very elegant finish. Superb juice. 2026-2060. 93.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese 2020 750ml Was $99, Now $89, 23 bottles in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese 2020 375ml Was $49, Now $39, 16 half-bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points
“Such an exotic nose with a slew of passion fruit, mangosteen and King Alfonso mango. Compact and concentrated, but the more important things are the coolness and gracefulness of this moderately sweet Auslese that turns in a dark, “earthy” direction at the powerful finish. Very limited production. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2018 750ml Was $79, Now $69, 2 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 98 points
“The purity and precision of the 2018 Hermannshöhle Auslese is the stuff that legends used to be made from. The bouquet is complex and utterly refined, offering up scents of pear, white cherries, bee pollen, a touch of orange zest, lovely salinity and a mineral bath of slate. On the palate the wine is fullish, racy and utterly seamless in its balance, with great intensity of flavor, laser-like focus and truly stunning mineral drive on the backend (particularly for Auslese), with an endless and magical finish. 2032-2090+.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2021 750ml Was $99, Now $89, 6 bottles in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2021 375ml Was $49, Now $39, 5 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points
“Pressed with whole bunches in a basket press for about five hours and vinified in a single halbstück (650 liter), the 2021 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese is one of the rare botrytis wines of the vintage, and it opens with a clear, precise and aromatic bouquet with candied pink grapefruit aromas. Lush and round on the palate, this is an intense, generous and salty, piquant and delicate yet also rich and sweet but light and lifted Auslese with great balance and elegance. A fabulous, delicate and fine, juicy and filigreed Auslese. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.”
 
We offer 242 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.

Shop the sale on our webstore now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Kopke
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Kopke
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Kopke
 
Max Ferd. Richter
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Max Ferd. Richter
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Max Ferd. Richter

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Kopke sale ends Tuesday, October 29th at 9 am Pacific. Max Ferd. Richter sale ends Wednesday, October 30th at 9 am Pacific.